The Afterlife of the Thames Tunnel: How a White Elephant became the Windrush Line
Though the Thames Tunnel, the world’s first tunnel beneath a navigable river, was an engineering marvel, it was a financial failure. Almost two centuries later, it is a vital north-south rail link as part of London Overground’s Windrush Line. In our latest blog, Mark Kleinman tells the story of how a white elephant became the …
Illustrious Visitors to the Thames Tunnel
An appearance from a famous person is always a great way to advertise and bring excitement to any project or idea. This post looks into how members of royal families – the celebrities of the 19th century – were not only interested in the Thames Tunnel but also how the press reported on those visits …
The Fate of the Tunnel
While the Thames Tunnel is still considered an engineering marvel, the end of the story was not as glamorous as originally intended, when it became a financial liability to the owners and was sold and eventually incorporated into the London Underground system in 1865. The Thames Tunnel which links the two shores of the river …
Women in STEM Video Project (Part 2)
In part 2 of our update on the Women in STEM Video Project, young filmmaker Binta Kargbo tells us about her experience on the project from research to practising camera skills to filming in some exciting locations… Hey there, welcome to part 2 of the Women in STEM film project blog. My name is Binta …
The Women in STEM Video Project (Part 1)
The Brunel Museum have been hosting an exciting film project exploring the experiences of Women in STEM. Young filmmaker John Syon Lieu tells us more… Hi there, my name is John Syon Lieu, and I am a level 3-year 2 film-making student at NCG Southwark College. I’ve recently worked on a project called ‘Women in …
Brunel Museum shortlisted for Best Event at Cultural Enterprise Awards
The Brunel Museum has been shortlisted for Best Event in the Cultural Enterprise Awards 2025. The Brunel Museum’s iconic Thames Tunnel Shaft hosted British Youth Opera’s production of The Rape of Lucretia, creating a truly unique cultural event. The atmospheric, subterranean space transformed the production into a gripping, immersive experience, making it one of the …
Why doesn’t this vase have room for flowers?
Tucked amongst the collection of Thames Tunnel memorabilia on display in the Brunel Museum is a small ceramic vase depicting a couple and their countryside cottage. It has a single, thin hollow stem, formed from a tree growing behind the cottage. Unlike all the other examples of Tunnel memorabilia at the Brunel Museum, it does …
Brunel Museum publishes its Research, Public History and Science Outreach Report 2024
Today, the Brunel Museum published its first Research, Public History, and Science Outreach report, detailing its activities in these areas. This Research, Public History, and Science Outreach Report 2024 is available to read here. With the generous support of funders including the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund, as well as the hard work …
New For 2025: £2 Tickets for Locals!
One piece of feedback we often receive is that our local communities would love to benefit from reduced price entry. We agree, and have been working behind the scenes to put this in place! For 2025, we have decided to introduce a locals tickets. This will be open to all those living in the SE16 …
Five Sisters, an Inheritance, and the Thames Tunnel
Of the 243 people who invested money in 1824 to finance the construction of the Thames Tunnel, only eight were women. Five of these eight were sisters. In this blog, Jack Hayes uncovers the story of the five orphaned sisters who invested in the Thames Tunnel Company. Shrewd international businesswomen from Rotherhithe, the sisters navigated …